happybottom
01-08-2008, 08:15 PM
Pun intended folks, but I was scared sh**less until I found this site four days ago, and I have been sneaking around it ever since. I want to thank each and every one of you who has posted their stories as it has brought great relief to my body and soul. So I thought I would share mine in hopes that it might do the same for others!
Last wednesday I had one very large ulcerated 'roid removed (scalpeled and sutured) from the edge of my rectum that sat right on my sphincter muscle (an innie AND an outie, depending on it's mood!) and two internal banded.
My doc sedated me heavily instead of general anethesia, and gave me lots of local anethesia when I was sedated. I do not remember any of it.
The procedure only took about 30 minutes. I got there at 7am and was on my way home by 10:30am. I did not have to wait to pee, and peed right away when I got home even though my entire nether-regions stayed numb until 10pm....which was a blessing.
The first 3 days were a blur as I went thru FORTY-FIVE oxycodone and 30 valium tablets to keep the pain at bay---took 3 oxy every three hours and 2-3 valium every six hours for the glorious anal spasms. BUT this kept the pain at about a level 2, which was totally bearable. The only thing that truly sucked was everytime I got up to go pee I had to carry a big ziplock baggie with me, because the meds made me sooo nauseous I threw up almost every time. But I am sensitive to that stuff, so that is not a hugely common thing, methinks. Also, sometimes it would take me about 20 minutes to pee because I could only dispense a teaspoon every minute or so. That's another effect of the oxy.
I ate graham crackers, applesauce, LOTS of fig newtons, ginger ale, bananas and canned peaches and pears. Citrucel twice a day and stool softeners 2-3 times a day (dulcolax---not the laxative).
I took a Senakot laxative on Friday night and woke up saturday morning feeling like I was pretty full and needed to poo. I did not want to push, but could really feel there was something in there that was not moving, so I called my doc and she told me that enemas are okay if you are genuinely full and it won't come out. I slipped my pinky in and could feel I was genuinely full. :)
BUT she also said to start with the "Mineral Oil Fleet" enema as it is more lubricating than the saline. Nothing happened, so I followed it with a Fleet Saline enema and two minutes later the floodgates of hell opened. :) My doc said that it would feel like "passing the sun" but each poop that followed would get easier....she was right. It did really hurt, but it is getting easier to deal with.
I don't have a shower attachment, so I keep four large plastic cups of warm water next to me while I am on the toilet and pour it on as I push on my perinium when I go. Not an easy feat, sort of like juggling, but neccessary and worth it. :) I even tried singing at the top of my lungs yesterday morning as I pooed to see if it would help relieve some of the pain, but alas, it did not. It did make me laugh, however, as soon as I hopped into my heavenly bathtub with warm water and epsom salts. :) Gotta love the sitz bath!! Soooooooo soothing!
There is usually very, very little blood---generally it is in the stool itself, NOT dripping into the toilet as it did before the surgery. I would have to wear pantyliners, my ulcerated hem bled so much.
SO!! I am off to the grocery store (first jaunt out of the house) to buy some nupercainal for the incessant burning that plagues me when I least expect it. Probably seepage or bm residue.
I am now only taking advil (600mg every 5 hours), my citrucel once a day and a softener or two. I go potty about 3-5 times a day, which is what I did before the surgery anyway. Although I don't seem to recall the BM's feeling like pinecones dipped in sulfuric acid......oh the days of yor. :) But I know that it will get better---it already has in just a couple of days. I know there will be good ones and bad ones.....such is life.
My advice....Keep your sense of humor. Pain does NOT last forever. If your roids were ulcerated or infected you will have a hell of alot more energy when they are gone and your body is not constantly fighting it.
I am tired of staying in bed all day, but thankfully there are a million wonderful novels to read. Wish me luck at the store! I am a little scared to head out.
Have a wonderful evening and be brave!!!
Last wednesday I had one very large ulcerated 'roid removed (scalpeled and sutured) from the edge of my rectum that sat right on my sphincter muscle (an innie AND an outie, depending on it's mood!) and two internal banded.
My doc sedated me heavily instead of general anethesia, and gave me lots of local anethesia when I was sedated. I do not remember any of it.
The procedure only took about 30 minutes. I got there at 7am and was on my way home by 10:30am. I did not have to wait to pee, and peed right away when I got home even though my entire nether-regions stayed numb until 10pm....which was a blessing.
The first 3 days were a blur as I went thru FORTY-FIVE oxycodone and 30 valium tablets to keep the pain at bay---took 3 oxy every three hours and 2-3 valium every six hours for the glorious anal spasms. BUT this kept the pain at about a level 2, which was totally bearable. The only thing that truly sucked was everytime I got up to go pee I had to carry a big ziplock baggie with me, because the meds made me sooo nauseous I threw up almost every time. But I am sensitive to that stuff, so that is not a hugely common thing, methinks. Also, sometimes it would take me about 20 minutes to pee because I could only dispense a teaspoon every minute or so. That's another effect of the oxy.
I ate graham crackers, applesauce, LOTS of fig newtons, ginger ale, bananas and canned peaches and pears. Citrucel twice a day and stool softeners 2-3 times a day (dulcolax---not the laxative).
I took a Senakot laxative on Friday night and woke up saturday morning feeling like I was pretty full and needed to poo. I did not want to push, but could really feel there was something in there that was not moving, so I called my doc and she told me that enemas are okay if you are genuinely full and it won't come out. I slipped my pinky in and could feel I was genuinely full. :)
BUT she also said to start with the "Mineral Oil Fleet" enema as it is more lubricating than the saline. Nothing happened, so I followed it with a Fleet Saline enema and two minutes later the floodgates of hell opened. :) My doc said that it would feel like "passing the sun" but each poop that followed would get easier....she was right. It did really hurt, but it is getting easier to deal with.
I don't have a shower attachment, so I keep four large plastic cups of warm water next to me while I am on the toilet and pour it on as I push on my perinium when I go. Not an easy feat, sort of like juggling, but neccessary and worth it. :) I even tried singing at the top of my lungs yesterday morning as I pooed to see if it would help relieve some of the pain, but alas, it did not. It did make me laugh, however, as soon as I hopped into my heavenly bathtub with warm water and epsom salts. :) Gotta love the sitz bath!! Soooooooo soothing!
There is usually very, very little blood---generally it is in the stool itself, NOT dripping into the toilet as it did before the surgery. I would have to wear pantyliners, my ulcerated hem bled so much.
SO!! I am off to the grocery store (first jaunt out of the house) to buy some nupercainal for the incessant burning that plagues me when I least expect it. Probably seepage or bm residue.
I am now only taking advil (600mg every 5 hours), my citrucel once a day and a softener or two. I go potty about 3-5 times a day, which is what I did before the surgery anyway. Although I don't seem to recall the BM's feeling like pinecones dipped in sulfuric acid......oh the days of yor. :) But I know that it will get better---it already has in just a couple of days. I know there will be good ones and bad ones.....such is life.
My advice....Keep your sense of humor. Pain does NOT last forever. If your roids were ulcerated or infected you will have a hell of alot more energy when they are gone and your body is not constantly fighting it.
I am tired of staying in bed all day, but thankfully there are a million wonderful novels to read. Wish me luck at the store! I am a little scared to head out.
Have a wonderful evening and be brave!!!
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beachgal01
01-09-2008, 04:57 PM
Loved your posting, happy bottom! I'm so glad you were helped by the folks on this site ... I was thrilled to find it before my surgery, too. I believe that my recovery was much easier because of Healthboards.com!!
happybottom
01-10-2008, 12:43 PM
Thanks Beachgal....I think we should all send TacomaGuy a thankyou card and a gift certificate. :) A year's supply of citrucel and bran flakes! :)
BTW, the Nupercainal that I bought the other day has been a real life saver.
Buying it was a pain....I decided to be brave a run a couple of errands while I was out and about fainted at the grocery store---not from pain, just fatigue. Really takes alot out of a person, this surgery. The body needs lots of rest.
Have a great day everybody! Happy Pooping! (That is what my doctor said to me!! haha!)
BTW, the Nupercainal that I bought the other day has been a real life saver.
Buying it was a pain....I decided to be brave a run a couple of errands while I was out and about fainted at the grocery store---not from pain, just fatigue. Really takes alot out of a person, this surgery. The body needs lots of rest.
Have a great day everybody! Happy Pooping! (That is what my doctor said to me!! haha!)
beachgal01
01-10-2008, 02:07 PM
Yeah, that TacomaGuy is one in a million! I owe him a debt of gratitude that I'll never be able to pay!
I am just over five weeks post surgery and the only thing I still struggle with is low energy. Seems to get a little better each day, but there are definitely days I drag my body around with me all day long. I would definitely agree that this surgery takes alot out of you ...
Happy pooping!
I am just over five weeks post surgery and the only thing I still struggle with is low energy. Seems to get a little better each day, but there are definitely days I drag my body around with me all day long. I would definitely agree that this surgery takes alot out of you ...
Happy pooping!
happybottom
01-11-2008, 12:53 PM
Just had my post-op with the good doctor yesterday (who is a colo-rectal surgeon, BTW...about my age...which is 34).
I was only 9 days post surgery, but she is mega-pregnant and due any minute so she wanted to make sure I was A-OK before she was out of commission.
I have two small lumps of scar tissue that sort of resemble hems that are visible when I push a little...she said that they will heal nicely and fade rather quickly with time. All my sutures were intact and there were no problems.
She gave me a hydrocortosone cream to start using soon----she said when things heal they start itching like mad. So looking forward to THAT. :)
She also said (and I am writing this to give people hope) that she was SHOCKED I took the narcotic pain pills for only 3 1/2 days before switching solely to Motrin. Evidently, most people stay on the narcs for about 7-10 days, so she was impressed. I do not think that i am an "uber-bad-***" when it comes to pain, which leads me to believe that this surgery CAN be achieved without the serious lingering pain that plagues some people. My prayers are with you...I mean that.
Now, I did go thru all those oxycodone and valium the first few days and I most CERTAINLY needed them as the initial pain can be excruciating (I had a really big ulcerated #4 hem removed from my opening), but knowing that I made the switch to OTC meds rather quickly made me feel pretty good.
She also mentioned the importance of not taking TOO MANY ibuprofen pills in any given 24 hour period. I believe she said no more than around 2000mg. because it can be rather hard on your kidneys over time. And that if I needed more than that, it was okay to go back and forth between taking tylenol (acetominaphin/perecetamol) and advil (motrin/ibuproen) throughout the day, with the occasional mighty narcotic pain pill at night if I needed it. Good to have options.
I know that people are very afraid before this surgery, and I can understand why. But having "come out the other side" I can already say after 9 days, I am glad that I did it.
I did not even scream this morning when I had my BM! Haha! That's a first since the surgery! :) Just have to keep on taking the stool softeners and citrucel for awhile.....I broke down and had a meat pie and chocolate a couple of days ago, did not take any softeners and about DIED the next morning. :) Overcompensated the next day because I was scared and then had diarrhea. But now, I am back on track. It's a fine balance, isn't it?? :)
Happy Pooping!!
I was only 9 days post surgery, but she is mega-pregnant and due any minute so she wanted to make sure I was A-OK before she was out of commission.
I have two small lumps of scar tissue that sort of resemble hems that are visible when I push a little...she said that they will heal nicely and fade rather quickly with time. All my sutures were intact and there were no problems.
She gave me a hydrocortosone cream to start using soon----she said when things heal they start itching like mad. So looking forward to THAT. :)
She also said (and I am writing this to give people hope) that she was SHOCKED I took the narcotic pain pills for only 3 1/2 days before switching solely to Motrin. Evidently, most people stay on the narcs for about 7-10 days, so she was impressed. I do not think that i am an "uber-bad-***" when it comes to pain, which leads me to believe that this surgery CAN be achieved without the serious lingering pain that plagues some people. My prayers are with you...I mean that.
Now, I did go thru all those oxycodone and valium the first few days and I most CERTAINLY needed them as the initial pain can be excruciating (I had a really big ulcerated #4 hem removed from my opening), but knowing that I made the switch to OTC meds rather quickly made me feel pretty good.
She also mentioned the importance of not taking TOO MANY ibuprofen pills in any given 24 hour period. I believe she said no more than around 2000mg. because it can be rather hard on your kidneys over time. And that if I needed more than that, it was okay to go back and forth between taking tylenol (acetominaphin/perecetamol) and advil (motrin/ibuproen) throughout the day, with the occasional mighty narcotic pain pill at night if I needed it. Good to have options.
I know that people are very afraid before this surgery, and I can understand why. But having "come out the other side" I can already say after 9 days, I am glad that I did it.
I did not even scream this morning when I had my BM! Haha! That's a first since the surgery! :) Just have to keep on taking the stool softeners and citrucel for awhile.....I broke down and had a meat pie and chocolate a couple of days ago, did not take any softeners and about DIED the next morning. :) Overcompensated the next day because I was scared and then had diarrhea. But now, I am back on track. It's a fine balance, isn't it?? :)
Happy Pooping!!
happybottom
01-27-2008, 01:02 AM
It's been 3 1/2 weeks post-op an I am still hanging in there. Just wanted to let people know that I was one of the lucky ones---I was totally off all pain meds including OTC ones before the second week was over. It is still an "eye opener" when I go potty in the mornings, but the fear outweighs the pain---I still take my stool softeners (3) every day and my citrucel twice a day. Keeping my fiber up and drinking lots of water helps. Eating spicy food and popcorn does NOT, however. :)
Take my word for it!
I am still experiencing some itching, especially in the mornings, and a little bleeding here and there---but not enough to cause alarm. Just a little on my undies by the end of the day.
There are two small skin tags that my doc says are scar tissue/swelling and they will go away---that is where most of the itchiness seems to be centered. There is some greenish discharge (gross!) that almost looks like scabs that I wipe away throughout the day---it grosses me out more than anything else. I really just want my butt to be normal. :)
But I thought I would leave an update since my recovery was pretty swift, and I know reading a lot of these posts can be rather daunting and scary.
Just make sure you eat your fiber, drink your water and rest rest rest. I think I did all right because I mostly stayed in bed on my side eating applesauce for a full 10 days. :)
Good Luck!!!
Take my word for it!
I am still experiencing some itching, especially in the mornings, and a little bleeding here and there---but not enough to cause alarm. Just a little on my undies by the end of the day.
There are two small skin tags that my doc says are scar tissue/swelling and they will go away---that is where most of the itchiness seems to be centered. There is some greenish discharge (gross!) that almost looks like scabs that I wipe away throughout the day---it grosses me out more than anything else. I really just want my butt to be normal. :)
But I thought I would leave an update since my recovery was pretty swift, and I know reading a lot of these posts can be rather daunting and scary.
Just make sure you eat your fiber, drink your water and rest rest rest. I think I did all right because I mostly stayed in bed on my side eating applesauce for a full 10 days. :)
Good Luck!!!
gizz
02-05-2008, 10:35 AM
Thank goodness I found this. Thanks for the info everyone. I am scheduled for a hemorrhoidectomy in 3 days. I am scard s---less. Sorry, it just seemed appropriate. :rolleyes:
I have put this off for far too long. It has been a really bad problem for the past 5 yrs. My husband took me to the emergency room, :eek: (how mortifing) over a year ago with bleeding, thrombossis and a internal tear. I was given pain killers that lasted about 8 hrs but after that nothing but tucks and a lidocaine cream and anusol. I have since done my research and feel very confident about my surgen, these types of surgeries are all she does.
This is the first place I have found that had some positive input. I know this will be bad but I have no choice about the surgery all my rhoids are grade 3&4and the tear is still a issue. :( It has been a tough year.
I know a sense of humor does a world of good. I will be so glad when I am not such a (pain in the ***) anymore. Please send any POSITIVE input that might help my way. Lord knows I need it. Again I know this will be a challange to get through, I am not trying to be unrealistic. I am just trying to make the best of a bad situation. :confused:
I sure will be glad when this is all behind me. Sorry again. :D
I have put this off for far too long. It has been a really bad problem for the past 5 yrs. My husband took me to the emergency room, :eek: (how mortifing) over a year ago with bleeding, thrombossis and a internal tear. I was given pain killers that lasted about 8 hrs but after that nothing but tucks and a lidocaine cream and anusol. I have since done my research and feel very confident about my surgen, these types of surgeries are all she does.
This is the first place I have found that had some positive input. I know this will be bad but I have no choice about the surgery all my rhoids are grade 3&4and the tear is still a issue. :( It has been a tough year.
I know a sense of humor does a world of good. I will be so glad when I am not such a (pain in the ***) anymore. Please send any POSITIVE input that might help my way. Lord knows I need it. Again I know this will be a challange to get through, I am not trying to be unrealistic. I am just trying to make the best of a bad situation. :confused:
I sure will be glad when this is all behind me. Sorry again. :D
beachgal01
02-05-2008, 11:43 AM
Gizz - I'm glad you found this site, too! I had my surgery on December 3rd and I'm real close to 100% now. I'll tell you - it made all the difference in the world in my recovery!! Be sure to print out TacomaGuy's Guide to Recovery. I referred to it every day during my recovery - and it helped soooo much!
Good luck and remember to take it easy on the narcotic pain pills (they will constipate you!), be aware of your fiber intake, take stool softeners as needed, and remember to use a hot water bottle in the small of your back to relieve those awful muscle spasms -- that helped me completely!
Good luck and remember to take it easy on the narcotic pain pills (they will constipate you!), be aware of your fiber intake, take stool softeners as needed, and remember to use a hot water bottle in the small of your back to relieve those awful muscle spasms -- that helped me completely!
gizz
02-06-2008, 11:24 AM
Thanks so much I really appreciate your message. I just found TacomaGuy's guide. I have it already printed up.
I have a couple of extra challanges as I have 2 diseases that could make this more difficult. I have Porphyria a genetic disorder which can cause really bad constipation and a bladder disease Interstiticial cystitis that causes me much pain on its own. So I really am sooo grateful to find the help. I am nervous but very ready to get on with it. The anticipation is awful. I have waited for a month since seeing the Dr. and being scheduled for surgery. It is amazing all the stuff that goes through a persons mind in that amout of time. I remember on one message board in another site someone had posted not to have the surgery unless you were told it was that or death! Acckk! :eek:
Thanks for the suggestion, it is much appreciated. :)
I have a couple of extra challanges as I have 2 diseases that could make this more difficult. I have Porphyria a genetic disorder which can cause really bad constipation and a bladder disease Interstiticial cystitis that causes me much pain on its own. So I really am sooo grateful to find the help. I am nervous but very ready to get on with it. The anticipation is awful. I have waited for a month since seeing the Dr. and being scheduled for surgery. It is amazing all the stuff that goes through a persons mind in that amout of time. I remember on one message board in another site someone had posted not to have the surgery unless you were told it was that or death! Acckk! :eek:
Thanks for the suggestion, it is much appreciated. :)